‘Better at Home’ - simulated learning for parents and carers

The ‘Better at Home’ project was introduced to support transition to home for technology dependent children with complex health care needs by providing training and support to parents and unpaid carers.

Many of these children require complex medical interventions including tracheostomy, gastrostomy and children who are ventilator dependent. There were three elements to the project:
•    WellChild Parent Trainer Role
•    ‘Better at Home’ Simulation Suite
•    eLearning materials

Whilst all three elements of the project were evaluated (Appendix 1), this report will focus on the evaluation of simulated learning in the ‘Better at Home’ suite. The project was a collaborative partnership funded by the charity WellChild and included the development of a simulation suite at Edge Hill University and the role of a WellChild Parent Trainer seconded by Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.